Chapter 41: A Late Bloom is Fearsome (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 41: A Late Bloom is Fearsome (1)
What kind of daily lives did noblewomen lead?
Some likely enjoyed reading and tea in a beautifully manicured garden.
Others probably spent peaceful moments with like-minded companions.
Among them, there were surely those who fell into luxury and hedonism, but the scene unfolding before my eyes was far removed from such stereotypes.
—Clang! Clang!
Like a venomous snake baring its fangs, swords clashed in mid-air, sending sparks flying.
"Hah!"
"Hyah!"
Sharp shouts rang out under the clear sky.
Helena and Natalia were crossing blades so fiercely that yesterday’s tender moments felt like a dream... and yet.
The expressions they wore as they looked at each other shone brighter than the sun above.
"My goodness, you’ve improved so much!"
"Hehe, do you think so? You’re as beautiful as ever, Sister!"
After exchanging praises, Helena and Natalia clashed once more.
Amidst the clear ring of steel, their skin, slick with sweat, glistened brilliantly.
After several dozen more exchanges, Helena sheathed her sword with a refreshed look.
On the other hand, Natalia...
"How was it, Leon?"
"It was magnificent."
"Hehe, you’re quite skilled at playing coy."
If you won't come to me, I'll go to you.
Natalia’s beaming smile seemed to say exactly that.
Sigh... fine. This is all part of the job.
It’s something that must be done to achieve what I truly want.
"It seems I can't avoid it."
"Of course not."
"In that case, I might as well enjoy it."
"If you can't avoid it, enjoy it. What a wonderful saying!"
I took the practice iron sword handed to me by Helena, who had approached my side, and stood before Natalia.
'Hah, she’s taking her stance immediately. Doesn't she get tired?'
While Natalia’s bright smile was pleasant to look at... I felt a slight sting to my pride, feeling as though I was being underestimated.
Even if my opponent was the Princess of the Sword, a woman comparable to a Sword Saint, being looked down upon never feels good.
Fine, time to get a little serious.
To make both Natalia’s body and mind surrender before me.
"Then, I’m coming."
"Whenever you're ready."
I took the Chudan-no-kamae stance, centering the sword with my body, and awakened my magic power.
The awakened mana quickly seeped into my veins, muscles, and bones.
My nerves sharpened, and I felt every muscle heat up like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
'To you, this might be a spar, but to me, it’s a hunt.'
A lion gives its all even when hunting a rabbit.
The moment my physical enhancement was complete, I shot toward Natalia like a bullet.
"Ugh...!"
Thanks to my enhanced reflexes and kinetic vision, I could clearly see the panic on Natalia’s face.
Strikes that were normally invisible to the naked eye now looked so slow they were almost boring.
Of course, I had no intention of going easy on her.
—Klang!
I swung down with a strike that carried all my strength, weight, and speed.
It was a plain vertical slash, devoid of technique or flashing wit, but it was enough.
When there is overwhelming power, technique and skill become meaningless.
"Kh...!"
Faced with speed and power that far exceeded her expectations, Natalia couldn't even parry the attack and was forced to take it head-on.
As a result, she could neither push me back nor retreat.
She lacked the strength to push, and a hasty retreat would leave her completely exposed to my follow-up.
'Hmm, Sitri was right. Natalia is also using magic power to enhance her body. She’s likely doing it unconsciously.'
Magic power isn't a force exclusive to mages; it’s a potential everyone possesses.
Having awakened to mana through my contract with Sitri, I could see the magic power flowing through Natalia’s body.
Of course, it was pitifully weak compared to the power of the Great Demon flowing through mine.
"Hmph...!"
I poured more strength into the sword pressing down on Natalia.
"Khhh..."
The sword let out a screeching sound.
Natalia’s arms, which had been holding out somehow, began to buckle, and her knees slowly started to give way.
'She’s holding out quite well. But...'
I didn't place much importance on swordsmanship itself, but letting a captured momentum slip away was out of the question.
Therefore, I pressed down on Natalia even more ruthlessly.
"Kh... ugh...!"
Natalia’s face contorted.
Her smiling face was beautiful, but seeing her face twisted in pain stirred a certain sadism within me.
Soon, I would make this beautiful face contort with nothing but ecstasy and pleasure.
With that thought, I suddenly withdrew all the strength from the sword pressing against her.
"Ah?!"
—Clang!
Because she had been pushing back against my sword with all her might, Natalia instantly lost her balance.
I immediately struck her sword away and pointed mine at her throat.
"I win this time."
"...So it seems."
Like Helena, Natalia seemed to have a personality that couldn't stand losing, judging by the way her eyes flickered between her dropped sword and me.
"You weren't being serious at all until now."
"Haha, that's because you weren't in a position to give your all, Lady Natalia."
"That may be true... but my pride is a bit wounded. I’ve never lost so overwhelmingly before..."
"Don't take it to heart. Honestly, that was more of a contest of strength than a spar, wasn't it?"
"That’s why it’s even more frustrating. Technique exists to overcome a difference in strength... but you didn't even give me an opening to use it..."
If we stayed like this, she’d probably ask for another round.
It wouldn't be bad to carve the feeling of defeat deep into her right now, but...
That wouldn't be fun for me.
Unlike a certain someone, I don't have a taste for crushing those weaker than me with pure force.
"Hmm... in my view, it’s also because your body hasn't fully recovered yet, Lady Natalia."
"I wonder... the full power I felt from you just now, Leon... even at my peak, I..."
"In that case, I will help the current you reach your climax."
"...Pardon? Reach my... climax?"
"Hm? I meant I would help you surpass your peak. Did it sound like something else?"
"Ah, ah, yes. I see, that’s what you meant. Oh, my... haha, ha..."
Oh my~ what kind of naughty things were you imagining?
Did she think I meant that kind of climax just because I said the word?
Well, I actually did mean that climax.
Just as Helena turned out to be a lewd masochist, it seemed Natalia might be the same... or was that a bit of a stretch?
'Though I do plan on making her that way.'
With that settled, I returned my useless sword to its scabbard.
It was a gesture to signal that our duel was over.
"Then, I shall see you in that room today. My teacher has prepared the bathroom, so please, Lady Natalia, enjoy your bath to your heart's content."
"Yes, I understand. Then, I shall take you up on that."
Now... while Natalia washes off her sweat, I should go set the stage.
*
"Phew..."
As soon as she soaked her body in the tub, a natural sigh escaped Natalia’s lips.
The fragrant warm water wrapped around her body pleasantly.
The tub was at the perfect depth—neither too deep nor too shallow.
Moreover, having worked up a sweat, Natalia stayed in the bath longer than usual.
'By the way, Lena has become incredibly strong... and Leon as well...'
Like the Princess of the Sword who loved the blade more than anyone, Natalia first thought of Helena.
She had always thought of her as a lovely sister who followed in her footsteps and looked up to her.
But the sister she met again after all these years stood against Natalia’s sword head-on, as if the past had never happened.
Not only that, she even delivered counterattacks so sharp they made Natalia catch her breath.
'I am truly happy for her growth and achievements... but ah, why am I such an ugly person... to be jealous of my sister's success instead of just being happy for her...'
Of course, Natalia’s jealousy was tiny and insignificant compared to her joy... but.
Precisely because of that, the thorn of jealousy pricked Natalia all the more sharply.
Like a splinter in a fingertip.
Perhaps because of that sting, Natalia’s thoughts soon drifted to her second opponent, Leon.
"...To think he had been going easy on me until now."
There was no enemy the brilliant Natalia of the past couldn't break.
She toyed with those confident in their strength using her peak skill and technique.
She brought those confident in their technique to their knees with even more beautiful skill.
That was why the image of Leon pressing her down from the front was still vivid in Natalia’s mind.
Her heart fluttered strangely at the memory of herself being helplessly subjugated.
Perhaps that was why Natalia unconsciously muttered a single sentence.
"If only it had been Leon instead of Loengram..."
Instantly, Natalia hurriedly covered her mouth.
What on earth was she saying?
It was true that Leon was a young noble from a good family and a perfect man in every way.
And... a man much stronger than her...
However.
'He’s around the same age as Armin. What am I thinking about a man the age of my son... I must forget, I have to forget.'
But Natalia did not know.
That humans are creatures who cannot even forget at will.
That taboos are demons that grip the heart even tighter the more one tries to resist.
Soon, the demon that had captured Natalia’s heart brought back a memory she had carelessly let slip.
'You are a beautiful and lovely person.'
'Isn't it more important not to forget yourself while dreaming than the dream itself? That’s what I think.'
As he said that, Leon had wiped away the tears Natalia shed.
Quite literally.
Whether it was because of that memory, or because of a marital relationship that had never known love from the start.
Natalia found herself stroking her own cheek.
She recalled Leon’s warm and soft hand, the benevolent touch that wiped her tears, and the strength of a man far stronger than her in her still-tingling hands.
"...Haa. Let’s go out. I’ve let myself get too flushed."
It must be because she sat in the comfortable tub for too long.
Believing that to be the case, Natalia dried herself and got dressed.
She put on an embarrassing outfit that barely covered her breasts and hips—something that should be considered underwear rather than clothes—without any hesitation.
Even when her reflection appeared in the mirror, she didn't feel any suspicion.
She walked down the hallway she had traversed every day for the past few months, and just as she was about to enter the room to receive her massage from Leon.
"Ah, ahhh... Young Master...!"
"You kept looking at me during the spar earlier, didn't you? You lewd bitch. Did you want this that badly?"
"That's right...! Helena is a lewd bitch who's gone blind for the Young Master's cock...!"
At the incredibly vulgar conversation leaking through the crack in the door, Natalia’s entire body froze.
The fact that the people having that conversation were Leon and Helena made her heart feel like it had stopped.
'No... way... how...'
Aren't those two in a teacher-disciple relationship? How could they do that?
Even as she thought this, Natalia’s eyes continued to follow Leon and Helena.
"Ahn! Ahhhhn! Young Master...! P-please hit me...! Please punish the lewd Helena...!"
—Slap! Slap!
"Hngh... ha... ugh...!"
"You're soaking wet, yet you're tightening up so hard. This isn't a punishment, is it? Do you like getting your ass slapped by your disciple that much?"
"Yes, yes...! Ahaaan!"
Leon and Helena were indulging in each other like beasts.
Leon’s eyes glinted with wild hunger, and Helena’s face was melted in ecstasy.
All of it was a sight Natalia had never even imagined in her dreams, something she was seeing for the first time in her life.
Even though she knew they shouldn't be together, even though she knew it was a hideous taboo, Natalia’s feet wouldn't move from the door.
'Like... like that...'
Could it really be that intense?
Could someone make such a happy, rapturous expression?
Was it... that good...?
Unconsciously swallowing hard, Natalia asked herself.
But unfortunately, Natalia couldn't understand.
To her, sex was an act that was incredibly shameful, terribly painful, and filled with a sense of horrific humiliation.
Yet, before Natalia, who couldn't take her eyes off the crack in the door, Leon and Helena grew even more heated.
As if they were putting on a show for someone.
"Y-Young Master... th-there..."
"Relax. You washed the inside clean like I taught you, right?"
"Yes... kh... ha... ugh...!"
"Oh...! All that effort paid off. Look, Helena. It went right in so smoothly. How is it? Does it hurt?"
"It... it doesn't hurt, but... it feels strange...! Hu, ugh...!"
"Don't tell me you're feeling it even with your first time having anal sex? I haven't even moved yet. Haha, seriously..."
Leon inserted into her anus without hesitation, and Helena willingly accepted it.
That sight alone was shocking to Natalia, but Leon’s subsequent actions made her unconsciously clutch her chest.
"Heup... ha... eup... ah, ahh, Young Master..."
"I love you, Helena."
"Ahhh...!"
Leon slowly moved his hips while giving Helena a tender kiss.
Before she knew it, a wistful sigh escaped Natalia’s lips.
'Ah... me too...'
I want to receive a kiss like that too.
Leon’s kiss was so gentle yet passionate that Natalia unconsciously had such a thought.
Just what kind of feeling was it that made Helena make such a face?
Helena’s face was so stained with ecstasy and pleasure that Natalia almost reached between her own legs.
"Kh... I'm coming...!"
"Hngh, haugh... i-inside... please cum inside me...! Ahaaan!"
The sexual intercourse between Leon and Helena, which felt like it would never end, finally came to a close.
The two naturally shared a kiss as they pulled away from each other.
"Nothing hurts or feels uncomfortable, right, Teacher?"
"Yes... though a bit of a strange sensation remains..."
"It'll be fine soon. And... you seemed to enjoy it quite a bit, haha."
"S-still, it's embarrassing..."
While they shared such a conversation, Helena left through another door.
Now, the only person left before Natalia was Leon.
'Haa... regardless... today...'
Having seen something so shocking, she felt she should at least go back for today.
The moment Natalia turned to leave.
An incredibly beautiful demon stood behind her, red eyes glowing.
"Hehe, there is no need to be so afraid. Of course, I understand your situation well enough."
"A-A demon...!"
"Do not fear, Natalia. Intercourse is not a painful or miserable act. Ah, keep this a secret from Leon. This is something I'm doing on my own whim."
"Yes..."
Before she knew it, Natalia had opened the door and was standing before Leon.
Having forgotten who had appeared before her just now and what had been done to her.
All she remembered was that Leon and Helena had engaged in a fierce bout of intercourse in this room.
"You've arrived, Lady Natalia. Then let us begin immediately. Would you please lie down?"
"...Yes."
Natalia didn't even notice that the towel that usually covered her body was missing as she lay down on that very bed.
"I'll begin."